NBA: Grading every team’s 2023 offseason through the draft, free agency

Chicago Bulls

Biggest offseason moves: Re-signing Nikola Vucevic, re-signing Coby White

I’m going to be honest upfront. I didn’t love what the Chicago Bulls did so far this offseason. They essentially decided to run it back and I’m not sure that’s the best path forward for a team that seems to be stuck in NBA mediocrity. They didn’t make the playoffs last season and I don’t have much hope that they’re going to this upcoming season, with some of the other Eastern Conference teams making positive moves themselves this summer.

I’ve been clear on what I believe the Bulls should do; I think it’s time for them to at least retool around Zach LaVine. Honestly, they’re probably better off blowing their roster up, but I don’t know if they’re ready for that just yet. What should they have done this offseason? Well, first, they should’ve traded DeMar DeRozan in an attempt to cash in on that asset. Even if they trade him during the season before the trade deadline, that’s an asset that loses value with every passing day.

If Chicago doesn’t want to trade LaVine yet, that’s fine. They don’t have to.

As far as the moves they did make, I understood some. The re-signing of Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White makes sense. But the extension for Nikola Vucevic, with all due respect, does not fall in line at all. The Bulls feel like a team that has no clear direction, and that’s a problem.

Grade: C